Creature comforts

Had an hours lie in this morning till 7.30am until Hugo decides his routine has been disturbed and comes and lies in the middle of us on the bed. We also hear a rustling sound and guess Pip is up to mischief - the next thing we know is the toilet roll is on the bed as well!

We were all out for an hour or so today so we left Hugo and Pip in the kitchen behind the child gate with lots of toys, food, blankets etc. and they could go in the garden if they wanted. It was chucking it down with rain again while we were out but when we got back there was no sign of them inside anywhere which is very unusual as they are normally barking (Pip) and whining (Hugo) for attention and treats when we come in. Looked through the kitchen window and there they were, having a fine old time, chasing and boxing and rolling with each other round the garden - or rather, should I say, the mud patch! You can imagine the state of them and we had to leave them in the kitchen for a while so they would dry off before letting them in the living room.

I know it was a bit chilly today but Miss Pip has been very attached to the fire this afternoon - still amazes me that she gets so close and neither Hugo or Sid would go near it.

Nice and Clean!

Yesterday morning Hugo was fast asleep on the landing outside our bedroom door when Martin got up to go and have a wash in the bathroom. When I got up Hugo did too and I noticed something that he had been lying on - it was a bar of Imperial Leather soap, only a little bit chewed and with just a few dog hairs. He must have felt a little bit peckish and taken it from the dish in the bathroom during the night - makes me feel queasy to think about it!

Nobody loves me!

Later in the day Toby took Hugo and Pip up on the common after the worst of the rain was over but they came back absolutely covered in mud. There was no option but to bath them! We have never bathed Hugo before as he really is too heavy to manhandle, especially as he is none too keen on the idea but Toby and I between us managed to heave him into the water. He was not impressed and even less so when I used the shower attachment to rinse him off. He was a lot easier getting out the bath than getting in and proceeded to shake himself everywhere. As he is frightened of towels the best I could do was to tie one round him, superman-style, to soak up the worst of the water - he was not happy and just stood there until we took pity on him and removed it.  Miss Pip, on the other hand was not bothered in the slightest and lifted her legs up to be washed underneath and was quite happy to be dried off. The water in the bath was a thick brown gloop and I had to unblock the plug hole because of their hair so think a good wash was long overdue.  Both of them lay in front of the fire most of the evening and seemed to be exhausted by the experience - they didn't even bother going out for a walk later on. This morning both of them are beautifully soft and a LOT whiter than they have been for a while. Doubt it will last long in this weather though.

Hugo willing the cheese to fall off!

It was dark early tonight and very windy so rather than go anywhere too exposed we took them down the canal - Hugo was pulling like a train and I had to keep stopping and making him sit just to get some control back - think the Halti will be making an appearance again soon. Pip was jumping around so suspect the wind was ruffling both of them and leaves were blowing everywhere.. Needless to say both of them had to drink the canal water so ended up with mud on their legs again. Never mind, at least we managed to take them out for a while.

Walking in the woods.

Looking back to Penn Woods from
halfway up the field

We took Hugo and Pip for a really good walk through Penn Woods, just off Selsley Common yesterday. We had to walk down a steep path to get to the kissing gate which lead in to the woods and this was hilarious to start with - the path was covered with slippery beech leaves which are bad enough when you are on your own, but when you have two excited Akitas pulling you hard you can imagine the consequences! We slipped and slithered down the hill, and couldn't stop laughing - it was by sheer luck we didn't end up on the ground. Why is it that although there is a perfectly good kissing gate the dogs prefer to go underneath or through the railings of the fence instead? We ended up in a right pickle with me in the middle of the gate, Toby on one side of the fence and the dogs on the other and the leads tying us all up together - just glad no one was watching.

Once in the woods the path went down and down, through mud and leaves, Hugo and Pip pulling Toby and me down the hill with them - we could have done with a sledge really but they do like to go through the trees! Rather than going back the same way we had come we skirted round the bottom of the hill and cut across a field to get back to the common and where the car was parked. Although it was shorter it was much steeper but Hugo and Pip were full of energy and really enjoying themselves. At the bottom of the path was an old bath tub used to water the horses who lived in those fields so Hugo decided to have a drink - he really made himself jump though when his name tag clanged the side of the metal bath! Silly boy, he's a bit of a wuss really!

On the edge of Penn Wood

This morning was bright and frosty. Pip had sneaked up on our bed about 5 o'clock and was fast asleep but Hugo decided that 7am was LATE and he huffed in my face till I went and let him out in the garden. The pair of them went absolutely potty, skidding across the frost on the decking and licking everything that had crystals of ice on it. 

Toby and I took them back on  Selsley Common this afternoon but only on the flat bit on the top - our legs couldn't cope with the hills in the woods two days running. It was a beautiful afternoon with bright sunshine and quite warm but, unfortunately, this also meant lots of other people and their dogs were out walking too so Hugo was being a bit of a nightmare pulling in all directions to try and get to them. After about 5 minutes of this I had had enough so dragged him round to me, made him sit and held his face so he was looking at me and told him very firmly that he WAS going to walk nicely - amazed it seemed to work and he was fine after that so very pleased with him.

Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud!

Mud, mud, glorious mud!

Pip enjoying the mud

Toby decided to take Hugo and Pip down to the meadows yesterday morning - BIG mistake! The cows have churned the field up so much the mud is literally about a foot deep. The dogs absolutely loved it though, especially in the really soggy bits going into the river - all three of them were caked in mud and Toby had so much stuck in and on his boots he ended up taking them off and carrying them home. So, you can imagine the state of Hugo and Pip's legs - all of which should be white. To make matters worse, Hugo wouldn't let Toby get any of it off him when he came home. For those who don't know this area, the heavy clay here can be used to make a natural watertight lining to ponds and canals - it thick, very sticky and a bluish brown in colour. As it gradually dried it turned into a fine powder so we are now constantly trying to brush bits out of them - the seat of the black leather settee where pip lies is now a dull matt brown and I don't think Hugo's legs will ever be white again!

Later in the day Toby noticed they were playing with what he thought was a bit of fur from a deceased teddy bear until he spotted a tail and nose - it was a small mouse (very dead and squashed)! Have no idea if they caught it themselves or if next doors cat had left them a present but what did worry me was that it was black in colour - hope it wasn't someone's beloved pet!!!

Where did all this come from?!!

The little monkeys killed another kitchen roll today - this time there was only a little bit in the kitchen but the garden was awash with it! I am seriously going to have to find somewhere else to keep it - hiding the cook books in a cupboard certainly stopped the previous destructive streak so think I'm going to have to go minimalist (until you actually look in the cupboards that  is!).

We took them up on Selsley Common this evening - Hugo and Pip behaved quite well - but only because it was getting dark, big scaredy cats!! Normally Hugo is on the alert for any dog on the horizon but today he could see the cars going along the road on the edge of the common as they had their lights on so he kept 'pointing' at them instead and got quite excited  - perhaps he needs his eyes testing.

We love each other really!

Toby wasn't well today so rather than me trying to manage both Hugo and Pip on a long walk on my own I thought I would take them one at a time on a shorter one. Normally they are quite jealous of each other and as soon as you make a fuss of one the other pushes in so I thought they would enjoy the individual attention for a change.

I took Hugo first and although he walked much better than usual without pulling too much (no competition from Pip to be first all the time) he kept looking back over his shoulder, winging and whining for the whole walk. When I got back I switched them over and took Pip. She was quite skittish when she was walking although she hardly pulled at all BUT ....... she winged and whined, looking back over her shoulder for the whole walk!!

When we got back I asked Toby how they had been when they were left behind. Pip had stood behind the front door crying and Hugo had kept running up and down the stairs till we were back. 

Talk about separation anxiety!Think they are fonder of each other than they would care to admit.

Walking the plank!

Walking the plank!

We have been taking Hugo and Pip for walks up on Selsley Common or through Randwick Woods the last couple of weeks so when Toby and I took them along the canal the other evening they were really excited. They were darting all over the place, sniffing and having a grand old time. As the garden is still cordoned off poor Hugo has been deprived of his beloved pond water so he was climbing down the banks of the canal every few yards to have a good old drink. He must have rather overdone it though because he suddenly did the largest burp you have ever heard!

Looks like Pip is chasing Hugo in her sleep

When we got to the lock gates I was holding on to Hugo and Toby had Pip but we had to hurriedly switch leads as Hugo took off across the wooden plank walk way on to the other side of the canal and Toby had to go with him! He had spotted 3 ducks sitting in the grass and was very disappointed when they immediately jumped in the water, quaking loudly (actually it sounded like they were laughing at him!) Neither Toby or I like water and don't 'do' heights (the lock is about 20ft deep) so it wasn't very nice for Toby having to walk the plank. Hugo didn't bat an eyelid though and wanted to keep going back and forth - just had visions of him coming to the end of his lead and getting yanked back into the water - he would have been on his own if he had!!

Making friends with 'the monster'

Yesterday Toby and I went to do a home check for the Akita Rescue and Welfare and took Hugo and Pip with us. They were very well behaved for them - they only churned up the lawn, drank the dregs of coffee out of a cup on the table and went upstairs to check the bedrooms!

Had a good walk up on Selsley Common this afternoon - lovely sunshine and quite warm too. Hugo and Pip were very interested in a hang glider trying to take off and Hugo wanted to chase it. Must be getting braver because he also made friends with 'the monster' and wee'd up it!

Helping clean

This morning Hugo bought the kitchen roll in to the living room and presented it to Martin - fortunately there was only a couple of sheets left on it and he was allowed to chew it up. Without any more thought I took a new roll out and put it back on the work surface in the kitchen,

Toby had to go out for a couple of hours so left Hugo and Pip in the kitchen with their blankets, toys, food, water, back door open and the radio on for company (it's a bit like a military operation when we are getting ready to go out and the dogs are staying at home!).

When Toby came back, yes, you've guessed it - kitchen roll EVERYWHERE! Through the kitchen, into the hall, in the outhouse and up the garden - it was if it had been snowing!

Tonight as I was tidying up Hugo thought it would be fun to have a game of Tug with me and the duster - very helpful!

Please note - we are in the middle of putting
a new kitchen in which is why the one door is
 missing and the lino is down to what was there
when  we moved in  27 years ago!

It wasn't us!!

Halloween, Fireworks and Bed Fellows!

I'm so happy I could laugh!

You've got to be quicker than that Toby!

It was Halloween on Thursday night and much as I disagree with the whole thing I always have a big bowl of sweets and chocolate ready for the neighbours kids when they come knocking at the door.

Hugo and Pip were brilliant - to begin with every time the door was knocked Pip would bark and they would both come with me to the door to see who was there - the kids love them and almost forget why they are coming round as they try to pat and stroke the dogs. Of course, Hugo and Pip were in their element and the strange masks and wigs didn't bother them in the slightest - they were, however, slightly miffed that chocolate was being handed out with no sign of any coming in their direction. After half a dozen or so callers Pip had had enough and woofed from the settee without moving so Hugo got all the fuss.

This way!

Both Hugo and Pip sleep upstairs at night with Pip on her blanket at the top of the stairs and Hugo on his on the floor at the foot of the bed - a bit of an obstacle course if you have to get up in the night but they seem quite content. Miss Pip, however, has discovered our bed is more comfortable then her blanket and we quite often find her on the bed when we wake up in the morning - usually with pins and needles or cramp because she is laying across our legs. Then she tried pushing her luck by getting up as we were going to bed and we had a couple of nights very poor sleep as she would lie across the bed rather than down it so we started to push her off. Hugo does get up on the bed but usually for never more than 5-10 minutes before jumping back off but he has now taken matters into his own hands. As we go up to bed HE gets on the middle of the bed and lies down (surprisingly although he is twice the size of Pip he takes up less room then she does!). When Pip comes in there isn't room for her so she goes and lies on her blanket, we put the lights out, Hugo waits for about 5 minutes and then gets off and we have a free bed - what a clever boy!

I can smell something, where is it?

There are still remnants of the big bones they had last week lying around the house and some of these pieces have found their way upstairs. Pip is a bit of a madame and will steal Hugo's from out of his mouth but he is getting crafty as well. The other morning Pip was downstairs and Hugo jumped up on the bed between us for a cuddle (he's a big softie first thing in the morning) when he heard Pip coming upstairs, quickly jumped off the bed, found his bone, jumped back on the bed and lay on top of the bone so she didn't know he had it.

Fireworks, what fireworks?

Toby and I took Hugo and Pip up to Randwick woods this afternoon and we walked for well over an hour with them - they had a fantastic time and had us wrapped round the trees several times. It was beautiful up there today with the sun streaming through the branches on to the fallen beech leaves below. They were quite skittish and darting hither and thither. Several times Hugo picked up the trail of something and I was dragged after him through the undergrowth - didn't actually find anything but he had a great time. We saw a couple of people with four Huskies which Hugo and Pip would have quite liked to have joined but we wouldn't let them - think they had their hands full as it was.


Fireworks are going off all around tonight and I am pleased to report Hugo and Pip are not bothered in the slightest, even when our neighbour across the road let off several really loud ones - they just twitch an ear or stretch but don't seem to even notice most of them. Hugo asked to go up the garden when I was cooking tea and a rocket went up from just a few doors down - he just looked up at the pretty colours with his head on one side until it was finished and then carried on as normal. 

Big, brave, bone eating bears!

Now some of you might not believe this but not only do we not have double glazing, we don't have central heating in our house either! For the first time since May we actually put the gas fire on in the living room the other day and we realised it had not been on since we had had either Hugo or Pip so were interested to see what the reaction would be - and also whether we need to invest in a fire guard again! Hugo was so much like our old Sid it was unbelievable - he instantly removed himself as far from the fire as he could and lay down with a big sigh and started huffing and puffing. Miss Pip, on the other hand, lay out full length in front of it and soaked it up - not for the first time I suspect she is not all Akita!!

As mentioned before, we have put a barrier up in the garden to try and salvage some of the lawn that has now become a mud bath. Unfortunately, Pip can squeeze through, or can jump over, a couple of the obstacles and takes delight in running up and down on the inside of the barrier while Hugo runs up and down the other side - he is far too big to get through the gaps and has never shown any inclination to jump anything. To add insult to injury she takes great delight in going and drinking from the pond which is Hugo's preferred source of water.

Bones!

On Friday, Daniel went and bought a couple of 'Jurassic' bones from the pet shop and they have kept them amused for the last three days - there has been the odd squabble and it's not very good when you tread on a bit of shattered bone when you get up in the night but they have thoroughly enjoyed them. Until, that is, Miss Pip carried several pieces over the barrier so Hugo couldn't get them - he was not amused and got his own back by burying a large chunk in his blanket! The living room carpet is now reminiscent of a scene from Time Team when they are digging in a church yard.

My parents came to visit on Friday and were introduced to Pip for the first time - Dad came prepared with some treats in his pocket but made the mistake of 'barking' back at her when she met him (she is always very vocal when she is excited). Every time he spoke or looked at her she woofed at him so hope she won't do this every time they meet.

Where's it all gone?

Not much of a view today!

Who goes there - friend or foe?!

Went up on Selsley Common the other day when it was shrouded in fog - really quite eerie up there, especially when a beagle came charging up over the hill barking at us. Hugo and Pip obviously could sense the change and were charging around, jumping over each other and generally being very skittish - they loved it when they startled a flock of birds and tried to dash after them, as far as their leads allowed.

It's that time of year again and the fireworks have started - there is always a large display on the first Monday of half term week about a mile from where we live and the bangs and crackles can be heard quite clearly so we were prepared for two frightened dogs. Sid was always terrified of them and would sit as close to you as he could, panting and dribbling until it was over - it was almost a blessing when he got hard of hearing in later life and they stopped worrying him. Hugo and Pip are made of sterner stuff - firstly, they were having their last trip in to the garden before going to bed the other night when a firework went off overhead. As they were busy chasing each other and creating their own thunder by running across the decking I just assumed they hadn't noticed as it wasn't the loudest firework. When the local display started they were both fast asleep in the living room and apart from opening one eye and stretching slightly at one particularly loud 'boom' they weren't bothered at all. Long may it last.

We got soaked tonight going for our walk up on the common - Hugo even let Toby dry him with a towel which is major progress. The wet and cold must have worn them out as they are both fast asleep and showing no interest in going out for a quick walk round the block before bed.

Picture that!

We have had some beautiful walks in the last few days so here are a selection of pictures to celebrate the glorious Gloucestershire countryside.

Hugo taking a breather

Pip posing

Pulling Toby down the hill!

Dogs approaching!

Cows - I see cows!

Ready or not here I come!

Umm, tasty!

The hills are alive with the sound of.........

Hugo had just conquered 'the monster' - he wee'd up the post!

More dogs approaching!

Not impressed!

We are not amused!

Over the last few weeks a combination of perpetual rain, clay soil and two wild Akitas racing round and round has resulting in the lawn becoming an absolute mud bath - a lot of this mud making it's way indoors on the feet of the said two wild Akitas.

Water, water, I need water!

Daniel has now made a temporary barrier for the worst part of the garden but, unfortunately for Hugo and Pip, this includes the pond so their preferred drinking source is no longer available.

Miss Pip was the quickest to spot there was a route up across the decking but was foiled in her attempt to get to the pond by another barrier. Hugo just looks longingly across at it. 

We are not amused!!

If you go down in the woods today...

You might not believe this but I have lived in Stroud for over 30 years and have never been to Randwick Woods before today!

Toby and I decided to go up today so loaded the car with two excited dogs and wound our way along twisty, narrow lanes. The woods are absolutely beautiful and made me feel quite homesick for the beech wood next to Mum and Dads house.


Hugo and Pip had a wonderful time - we have never taken them in to woods before - they were chasing up and down the banks and round the trees and you could almost see them laughing - honestly they had big grins on their faces. Only downside was they were on very long extender leads which followed them up the banks and round the trees with Toby and I attached to the other ends. You can imagine the tangled mess we got into - it was great fun though and we will definitely be going back.

There's a huge monster on Selsley Common!

Only one cook book destroyed today, and fortunately one I don't use. Going to load all the books up into boxes tonight so should solve that problem.

The big scary monster!

Toby and I have just taken Hugo and Pip up on Selsley Common - beautiful up there today, sun shining, although a bit cold where the wind blows up from the River Severn. We had already encountered a couple of dogs without too much fuss when Hugo suddenly stops dead and actually growls and woofs very deeply (he is not particularly vocal at the best of times) so prepared for something major to happen. Was another dog approaching? No, not a soul in sight. Was there a cow? No, they were on the other side of the hill. Was there a hang glider taking off? No, absolutely nothing. Then realised what it was - the Cotswold Way marker post!!! Stupid dog - I had to go and pat it and make fuss of it so he could see it was a friend! Just glad there was no one around to see it.

Fish, chips and destruction!



Sweetness & Light!


One disgusting thing that happened on Tuesday - we have a pond in our garden which is well established with various fish  - some quite big. I noticed the other day that one was floating on the surface but it was the far side of the pond where I could not reach, it was chucking it down with rain and then I forgot about it. Toby was in the living room and he suddenly noticed an awful smell. Yes, you've guessed, Hugo was sitting there eating a big, partially rotted fish - what a delicious tasty treat that was!!!


Pip's a bit of a madam and will destroy anything and everything she can get hold off - I changed our bed (again it was last Tuesday) and she managed to eat a hole in the duvet before I could get the clean cover on. Then when Toby came to pick me up from work they ripped to shreds a cardboard box complete with all its packing chips so you can imagine the mess that made. Amongst the mess was my pastry brush (one of those silicone ones which was totally denuded with bits of red strips all over the kitchen floor! The only good thing is that neither of them seems inclined to swallow any of the bits.




The lawn is no more!

Our once lush and green lawn is now like a mud bath where Hugo and Pip are constantly chasing each other and we are seriously thinking of sectioning off parts of the garden in rotation so it can recover. The water features, now empty for the winter, have been knocked flying and the remaining few plants in pots have been pulled out!

At 2.45am Saturday morning I was awoken by Pip howling very loadly for quite a long time – a proper wail. I shot out of bed, as did Hugo to see whatever the matter was. Miss Pip was still asleep and was surprised with all the fuss so she must have been sleep-howling! Good old Hugo lay down next to her as if to protect her. Quite funny really because when I put my head out the window on the way back to bed I could hear dogs all over the estate barking – she had set the whole lot off!



Yesterday we got up early, did the housework (well, dusted & hovered downstairs) and then went to town for a couple of hours – both boys were also out. When we were nearly home I had a phone call from Toby to warn us of what was about to greet us but it was far worse than we could have imagined. The whole of the kitchen floor was strewn with chewed up cookery books and magazines! We had thought the reason they had attached the books before was because they were on a corner unit and they had been knocked off as the dogs brushed by but, no, the books they had selected were from the middle of the top shelf and the remaining ones around it were untouched.  Unfortunately, this time they have destroyed two of my favourites so I was not amused and  I’m afraid I smacked them both as well as shouting loudly (actually it hurt my hand more than them but they ran off into the garden and didn’t come in for a while). Hugo then spent the next hour or so trying to creep round us telling us how sorry he was and generally trying to let us know ‘it wasn’t him’. Miss Pip on the other hand sat underneath a scaffolding ladder on the decking and stayed well away – pretty sure she was the main culprit and she was very subdued for the rest of the day. Only time will tell if she has learned a lesson.

Woke us this morning to find there had been quite a harsh frost – Hugo spent some time licking the ice crystals off the decking! Goodness knows what he would do with snow.

 

 

 

The Birds and the Bees (well flies actually!)

Don't know whether it was because there was a bit of a mist before the sun burned it off but both Hugo and Pip, but mostly Pip, went completely loopy this morning. Charging round the garden, on and off the decking, in through the house, back out again. Hugo quickly got tired and just stood in the middle of the garden with Pip whirling round him. He wasn't THAT innocent though because every time she started to calm down he would go down on his front legs and jump at her to wind her up again!! All before 9 o'clock too.

Hugo thinking of the tasty treat he had missed earlier!

A bit later Toby suddenly called me downstairs - there was a bird in the kitchen and the dogs were going mad again! I opened the kitchen window, managed to get the dogs behind the child (or rather, dog) gate and Toby caught the poor little robin and got it out the window, unharmed. Hugo and Pip were non too pleased - they'd missed out on a tasty treat! Martin did comment later that he had wiped dog paw prints off the work surfaces where they had been jumping up.

It wasn't us!

This afternoon Martin & I were out the front doing bits on the cars (OK, Martin was doing, I was watching) and Hugo and Pip were howling inside the house - they knew we were out there and wanted to come out too. So, I opened my car door and let them out - they jumped straight in the back and were safely shut in, window open. Bad move. They weren't the only ones in the car - a big black buzzy fly was in there too. I don't know if it's just my two or if it is an Akita thing (Sid used to be exactly the same) but they absolutely hate flies - actually I think scared may be more accurate - they have to know where the horrible little creature is and the only way to be absolutely sure of that is to eat it. The back seat of a Fiat Punto and two Akitas does not leave much room so there was a lot of slipping and shaking and jumping going on in there and I began to fear for the wiring going to the rear windscreen heater. In the end I opened up the boot and let the fly out. Right, we can have a bit of peace now. WRONG! Pip decided to put her feet up on the back passenger shelf which immediately gave way beneath her and she was out the car and running round it in a flash! We got her back in quite easily but when the time came to pack up and we opened the door to get her out she was off again - little monkey. Hugo, who is normally as good as gold and goes back into the house without any fuss didn't like the shouting and dashing around and set off round the opposite side of the car to investigate and see where Miss Pip had got to. Two or three mad minutes which must have looked like something out of a cartoon and I went in and got 'dog bait', i.e. a couple of prawn crackers left from last nights Chinese take-away. Worked like a dream - being food obsessed has its compensations sometimes!

Cooking lessons!

Think Hugo and Pip wanted a go at some Mediterranean cooking today - it's a step up from last time when it was Microwave cooking!!

Snooze, Snooze

Snooze, Snooze

Did someone mention walk - we're gone!!